3 Now let us consider, how under the cross we are made more zealous in the means of our salvation. How customably hear we, how coldly pray we, how carelessly receive we the Sacraments, what fear, what indignation, what heat, what wrath, what repentance doth the discipline of the Church work in us, what majesty appeareth in our public exercises, what authority and fruit in our private meditations? But if the Lord rouse us up from this apoplexy and dead numbness of spirit by some fatherly correction, how profit we by the word, how beautiful are the feet of them, that bring the glad tidings of salvation, how sweet are the promises, how soon do the threatenings work on us, how zealously will we pray, how glorious are our feelings, what joys unspeakable in the Sacraments, what fear of sin, what trembling at God his judgements, what indignation with our selves, doth the Church censure work in us? and whereof cometh this? Surely because being driven out of every cranny and crevice, where we were went to be harboured, we can find no rest, until we come under the roof of the Lord his house, who in all our dangers, and after all our rebellions, will not push us out of his door, he will take up such Lazarus, 1and not into a spittle house, but into his Ark of comfort and Tabernacle of consolation. Oh deep sea of Gods mercy, which never can be sounded, that when men grow to such a Lordliness, as they will not hear us, nor see us, nor vouchsafe to speak to us, he should not refuse to give us free audience, and by his ready hearing move us to be eloquent and long in our prayers to him, who as soon as he doth but look on us, doth promise a release from our misery.
3 Now let vs consider, how vnder the crosse we are made more zealous in the meanes of our saluation. How customably heare we, how coldly pray we, how carelesly receiue we the Sacraments, what feare, what indignation, what heat, what wrath, what repētance doth the discipline of the Church worke in vs, what maiestie appeareth in our publike exercises, what authoritie and fruite in our priuate meditations? But if the Lord rouse vs vp from this apolexie and dead numbnesse of spirit by some fatherly correction, how profit wee by the word, how beautifull are the feete of them, that bring the glad tidings of saluation, how sweete are the promises, how soone doe the threatnings worke on vs, how zealously will wee pray, how glorious are our feelings, what ioyes vnspeakable in the Sacraments, what feare of sinne, what trembling at God his iudgements, what indignation with our selues, doth the Church censure worke in vs? and whereof commeth this? Surely because being driuen out of euery crannie and creuis, where wee were went to bee harboured, wee can finde no rest, vntil we come vnder the roofe of the Lord his house, who in all our dangers, and after all our rebellions, will not push vs out of his doore, he wil take vp such Lazarus, 1and not into a spittle house, but into his Arke of comfort and Tabernacle of consolation. Oh deepe sea of Gods mercie, which neuer can be sounded, that when men growe to such a Lordlinesse, as they will not heare vs, nor see vs, nor vouchsafe to speake to vs, he should not refuse to giue vs free audience, and by his readie hearing moue vs to bee eloquent and long in our prayers to him, who as soone as he doth but looke on vs, doth promise a release from our miserie.
- 1Gods favour and countenance in affliction.Gods fauour and co••tenance in affliction.
